"" However the third girl is seen in a very different light, she is referred to as "The Queen."" Sammy goes on to say "She kind of led them ( ) she just walked straight on slowly, on these long prima-donna legs (469)."" The reader can deduct that she is the leader of the three, the domineering one. She is the tall, pretty, conceited girl that so many men are drawn to. The reader begins to wonder if these so called friends' chose to accompany her or if "Queenie- had picked them just to make her look and feel better. Sammy reinforces this by saying "you got the idea she had talked the other two into coming (469)."".
Sammy becomes ensconced with "Queenie."" He describes her every inch. "She had a kind of dirty pink-beige maybe, I don't know-bathing suit with a little nubble all over it and, what got me, the straps were down (469)."" Not only has the young lady walked into the A&P in a bathing suit but to draw even more attention, her straps are down. Meanwhile in the second checkout, Stroksie is also watching. This makes it evident that working as an A&P cashier is not the most exciting of jobs. Updike continues to use the setting to his advantage, by describing the girls positioning around the store in relation to products and aisles. "I look straight up this aisle to the meat counter, and I watched them all the way (469)."" Sammy notices every detail of their presence. The girls are unique to the interior and contents of the store. Updike contrasts them to the dull "checker-board green and cream-rubber-tile floor (469)."" And goes on to say, "The sheep pushing their carts down the aisle-the girls were walking against the usual traffic (470)."" The girls are a metaphor for change. The story is set in the Sixties and they represent the future and general change. The store manager and customers are those that oppose, they are perfectly happy in their routines. Sammy on the other hand represents the youth that is all for change.
